Visit to the sculpture garden and charming house of Lucia and Jasper in Salorino

With two friends, we visited Salorino, a village about 60 kms west of Caceres, the inspired home and sculpture garden of Lucia Beijlsmit and Jasper Quak. We have known them since our very early days in Extremadura and followed the progress of their house and garden with interest, an ever evolving project created with love and devotion over many years of imaginative hard work. 

The village house has been preserved in its original form with some essential renovations, the rooms form a spacious flow for displaying sculptures, paintings and ceramic works. 

Jasper's library has been wedged into a dark room at the top of the house, a special atmosphere complete with a creaking floor made from salvaged ancient boards laid in a jigsaw of polished wood.

There is a magical courtyard garden with sculptures seeming to grow organically  amidst the abundant greenery. 

Here is Lucia's outdoor workshop, small boulders are strewn around, the raw material which will be transformed into her intriguing sculptures which retain an element of their original rough texture contrasting with the dense deep blackness of the sculpted and polished stone, supremely tactile! The sub-volcanic rocks are Diabase or Dolorite similar to volcanic basalt, Lucia and Jasper collect the rocks from the surrounding countryside of Salorino, for the marble sculptures the material is sourced from the quarries of the Portuguese marble towns of Vila Viçosa and Estremoz in the Alentejo, the province just over the nearby border with Portugal.

The sheltered courtyard with its sculpted secrets and charming gazebo has a  little gate leading to another surprising aspect, an expanse of meadow with vast views beyond the enclosing stone walls.

Here's wonder dog, Flat Stanley surveying the scenery from the gazebo

 

The former sheep meadow with its poor soil at the edge of the village was the basis of this now green expanse planted with many trees and shrubs forming a perfect stage for Lucia's sculptures and also the works of other artists collected over the years. 

It is possible to visit Lucia and Jasper with a previously arranged appointment. If you are looking for a unique work of art for your garden, patio or home there is much inspiration here.

For more information about Lucia's story, previous exhibitions and contact details-

https://www.luciabeijlsmit.com/

Day out to Villa de Arco and Coria with optional trip to Alcántara

This is a rather long trip for one day but can be split into two separate trips as there is a lot  to see.

From the finca we went straight to Caceres and then on to the turn off at Cañaveral, then into the sierra to reach the quaint hamlet of Villa de Arco with its perfect white washed church, mountain spring water running in the steets and an aire of being untouched for centuries. We left early, straight on to the autovia to Caceres and then continued to the exit for CAÑAVERAL 

 

The best way to approach is by walking from the turn off camino on the right just before the village, very charming entrance straight into the heart of the village. 

Here is an earlier post with a lot more photos, especially of the church and views.

https://finca-al-manzil.blogspot.com/2019/10/an-echo-from-past-abandoned-village-in.html 

On to Coria but two stops on the way which are both well worth the time.

1. Palancar at  Pedroso de Acim is a tiny monastery where San Pedro de Alcantara stayed,  it is a turn off the  road to left once on road to Coria.

Detailed information here 

https://finca-al-manzil.blogspot.com/2009/12/short-trip-to-very-small-monastery.html

2. The pottery in Torrejoncillo, Tinajas de Moreno, they make the huge wine alibaba pots and clay bread ovens as well as small ceramic items and tiles

https://finca-al-manzil.blogspot.com/2012/11/a-visit-to-our-favourite-potter.html

Coria a very under estimated historical town on the Alagón river, a strategic point founded by the Romans in the first century with large stretches of Roman walls still existing, further embellished by suceeding cultures, Visigoths, Moors and re-conquista Christians.The whole of the old town is very atmospheric within the ancient walls with 4 original entrance gates. It is now famous for the  running of the bulls during the feast of San Juan in June, bulls are well represented  everywhere.The 16th century cathedral has just been renovated and has an interesting museum. Good places to eat and drink with a restaurant and bar terraça at the archbishop's palace overlooking the river.

Here is an early post about Coria which also includes a side trip to the wonderful Trevejo castle.

https://finca-al-manzil.blogspot.com/2020/03/trip-to-coria-and-castle-of-trevejo-in.html

At this point one can return to Caceres and Finca al-manzil or continue to Alcántara with its eponymous Roman bridge, named by the Moors al-Qanṭarah (القنطرة) meaning "the bridge".  A really interesting town also famous for being the birth place of San Pedro de Alcántara  in 1499.

Main sights

Alcántara Bridge, of six symmetrical arches, 194 m long and 71 m high, built in honour of Trajan in 103-106. An inscription gives the name of the architect of the viaduct, C. Iulius Lacer.

Convent of San Benito de Alcántara (16th century)

Church of Holy Mother of Almocobar (13th century)

Remains of the Moorish walls, modified and restored in the Middle Ages

Convent of St. Francis (15th-17th centuries)

Convent of the Nuns of Los Remedios, of which only the Baroque Chapel remains

Here are more places to visit from Alcántara

https://finca-al-manzil.blogspot.com/2010/01/blog-post_8689.html 

Route Map of this trip